Container forming machine



Oct. 24, 1967 D. WAINBERG 3,348,457

Filed June 15, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 a ii ii i 6 w lNlV/ENTOK mwg D- WAINBERG CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE Oct. 24, 1967 9 Sheets$heet 2 Filed June 15, 1964 [NV/ENTOR Get. 24, 1967 D. WAINBERG 3,348,457

CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 iNlI ENTQR 2 1967 D. WAINBERG 3,348,457

CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1964 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 iNlVf/WOR Oct. 24, 1967 D. WAINBERG CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1964 Oct. 24, 1967 D. WAINBERG I 3,348,457

CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE Filed June' 15, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTUR Oct. 24, 1967 D. WAINBERG CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE 9 sheetssheet 7 Filed June 15, 1964 [NV/ENTU R 1967' D. WAINBERG CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 15, 1964 my Tn V [NU ENTOR 9M I r led-J pe ls, 1964 v CONTAINER .FORMINGMACHINE 1 r United States Patent 3,348,457 CONTAINER FURh/HNG MACHINE Daniel Wainberg, 4755 Blvd. des Grandes Prairies, St. Leonard, Montreal 38, Quebec, Canada Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,395 3 Claims. (Cl, 9351) The invention relates to improvements in a container forming machine as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel features of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of acceptable forms of the invention.

An object of the invention is to devise a die that will form its own base and which is easily removable from the machine for its substitution by another die of a different size, shape or style.

Another object of the invention is to construct a die that will have little or no moving parts and consequently will be easier to manufacture, will last longer, have a more positive action during its cooperative engagement by the plunger mechanism in the formation of the carton or container walls and their interlocking, and that will be made of a sturdy and durable construction.

A further object of the invention is to devise a die that may be shaped in the form of a plate provided with a die aperture and which may be slidably arranged, suspended or otherwise supported and detachably secured to the machine frame and located beneath the plunger mechanism and in such a way that the aperture in the die will be in alignment with the plunger of the plunger mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a plunger head that will be devoid of moving parts, hence no adjustments are necessary to be made to any of its fixed and rigid blank contact forming parts, with the result that the container forming means are positive in action at all times without deviation in the formation of the cartons or containers from the pre-cut blanks.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum any vibration or noise in the machine, during its operation, through reducing the number of unnecessary working parts in the machine and confining the operating mechanisms to direct operative engagements with the feeding mechanism, the container forming mechanism and other mechanisms, such as the conveyor, and all being driven by an oscillation unit that is operated by a suitable power unit.

A still further object of the invention is in the easy in clusion of a secondary motion or motions for other operations that may be required from time to time, such as in providing a means for assisting in causing the top locks of the blank to continue inwards to complete the ends of the container that is being formed, as part of the irnpartation of the actuation of the container forming mechanism and the feeding mechanism through an oscillation that is operated by a power unit.

A still further object of the invention is in the case in which the forming units, such as the plunger head and die, may be changed in the machine for assembling different sizes, shapes or styles of cartons or containers from pre-cut blanks without in any way interfering with the working parts of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a means whereby complete coordination is achieved between the feeding mechanism and the container forming mechanism so as to insure complete accuracy in the placement of the pre-cut blank over the throat of the forming die for its engagement by the plunger and forcing it through the throat of the forming die for the formation of the container.

A still further object of the invention is to eliminate the necessity of any adjustments to the gate of the magazine or of the magazine itself with relation to the forming die every time a change is desired, and thereby saving time and labour in their installation and avoiding possible errors that often occur where manual adjustments are required.

A still further object of the invention is to effect a synchronization of the working parts of the container forming mechanism and the feeding mechanism by imparting their actuation from an oscillation unit, in turn operated by a power unit.

A further object of the invention is to devise a means whereby the possibility of breakdowns to the working parts of the machine will be reduced to the minimum through the avoidance and elimination of many unnecessary moving parts, including the use of dogs, ratchets, the multiplicity of belts, gears, cams and other mechanisms, that are found in other types of container forming machines, thus simplifying the machine, and thereby avoiding delays, waste of time and labour, and generally speed up the production in the forming of containers from precut blanks.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a container forming machine that will be versatile in the bandling of many different kinds of cartons or containers to be assembled or formed from pre-cut blanks and that will be made of simple construction, light and compact in form, easy to operate and requiring little space for installation.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a machine that will be practically automatic in operation, requiring little attention from the operator during its operative maintenance, with the exception of maintaining an observation of the operation of the machine and in the handling of push buttons or other means for controlling the motion of the operating parts of the machine for the setting up of the cartons or containers.

Another object of the invention is to create a machine that will speed up the production and increase the quantity of completed containers formed from pre-cut blanks so as to maintain a quick and continuous supply of such containers for the introduction and packing of the producers or manufacturers comestibles or other goods therein.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrative of acceptable forms of the invention. It is expressly understood however, that the drawings are utilized for purposes of illustration only and are not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this latter purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container forming machine.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container forming machine having the casing walls removed to illustrate the operating connections for the container forming mechanism and the blank feeding mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the container forming machine as illustrated in FIGURE 2, and showing the plunger forcing a blank through the throat of the forming die.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the container forming machine having the casing removed.

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the container forming machine having the casing removed.

FIGURE 6 is a view of the container forming machine showing the side opposite to that shown in FIGURE 3, but illustrating the plunger in its upward stroke and away from the throat of the forming die.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged modified perspective view of the forming die and the magazine for the pre-cut blanks as an integral unit.

FIGURE 8 is a rear perspective view of the forming die and the magazine unit.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a container capable of being formed by the container forming machine.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a pre-cut blank from which the container is formed.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the forming die to illustrate the throat thereof and its formative elements.

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view as taken along the line 1212 in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal sectional view as taken along the line 13-13 in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the forming die and illustrating container supporting elements and container flange bending elements forming a part of the forming die.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side sectional view showing the plunger on its upward stroke from the throat of the forming die, the container in its near completion stage, but having its bottom wall supported by the container supporting elements and the flange bending elements in engagement position with the flanges of the container, the elements being operated by the secondary motion of the operating mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

In the past, various devices have been used for forming the walls of a pre-cut blank along folded lines and turning inwardly the flaps, flanges or locking lugs projecting from the ends of certain of the container walls so that they will enter apertures or slits located in adjacent container walls and complete corners for the formed containers and lock them together. This has been accomplished by means of a plunger which thrusts a blank into and through the throat or aperture of a forming die.

In many cases, hook-shaped elements or folding members are carried or pivoted in the sides of the plunger for the purpose of opening the apertures or slits in the container walls, engage with the flaps, flanges or locking members and pull them to the inside of the formed container, as well as other devices for pulling the locking members or flaps through openings in the container walls.

Furthermore the forming die has been involved with many contrivances for enlarging and reducing the size and shape of the aperture or throat formed in the forming die, such as the use of movable shelves, and other types of movable walls, fingers, etc. All of which complicates the functional operation of the blank forming mechanism, necessitating many adjustments, the repairing and the exchanging of these various movable parts and increasing the difliculties of proper maintenance of the machine.

In order that the production of formed containers from pre-cut blanks be maintained at a high rate, it is imperative that the blank be brought into aligning contact position with the forming die as quickly as possible and with the minimum of waste of travel distance, both in the longitudinal, vertical or lowering directions, so that the blank will practically slide into horizontal alignment with the forming die and dropped downwardly onto the face of the die. This will also reduce the length of stroke required for the movement of the plunger in its up and down plunge from and into the throat of the container.

These important factors have been included in the present invention together with the avoidance of extraneous movable parts to the plunger and the forming die, as well as reducing the number ofunnecessary working parts in the machine and confining the operating mechanisms to direct operative engagements with the feeding mechanism, the container forming mechanism and other mechanisms, such as the discharge conveyor, all being driven by a synchronizing unit that is operated by a suitable power unit.

Referring to the drawings, the container forming machine, as indicated by the numeral 35, consists of the machine frame 36 enclosed by the casing or panel walls 37. The machine frame supports the motor 38 and the speed reducing mechanism 39 that are connected to one another by the endless drive belt 40. The wheel 41 is mounted on the shaft 42 of the operating mechanism and has the operating rod 43 eccentrically secured thereto. The other end of the eccentric operating rod 43 is pivotally secured to the transverse rod 44 which is in turn pivotally secured to the longitudinal oscillating rods 45 and 46. These oscillating rods are pivotally secured at one end to the fixed bearing members 47 and 48 that are secured to the container forming machine frame and are pivotally secured at their other ends 49 and 50 to the lower ends 51 and 52 of the connecting rods 53 and 54, while the upper ends of the connecting rods are pivotally secured to the crosshead 55 of the plunger mechamsm.

The operating rods 56 and 57 have their lower ends pivotally secured at 58 and 59 to the oscillating longitudinal rods 45 and 46 intermediate of their fixed pivoted ends and their pivotal end connections to the connecting rods 53 and 54, and have their upper ends eccentrically connected to the blank pick-up mechanism 60 at 61 and 62.

It is obvious that modifications may be made for operating the plunger mechanism and the blank pick-up mechanism from the longitudinal oscillating rods eccentrically operated by the power unit without departing from the essentials of the invention, such as having a single connecting rod for operating the plunger mechanism and seperate wheels and eccentric rods from the power unit for oscillating each of the oscillating rods 45 and 46.

The crosshead 55 is slidably arranged on the vertical posts or rods 63, that are preferably secured to the end Wall 64 of the machine frame and suitably enclosed in the housing 65, and operated by the connecting rods 53 and 54 that are reciprocated by the longitudinal oscil lating rods 45 and 46. The arm or bracket 66 extends laterally from the crosshead and may be made integral therewith. The plunger stem 67 is detachably secured to the arm or bracket 66 and is suspended therefrom and has the plunger 68.

The plunger is placed in vertical alignment with the throat 69 of the forming die 70 and is adapted to engage with the blank 71 and force the same through the throat of the die for forming the container.

Before further particularizing on the constructional features of the container forming mechanism, it may be mentioned that the forming die and the plunger may be changed in accordance with the required size, shape or style of container that is to be formed from a pre-cut blank, but the forming die and plunger, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, are to be used in forming containers such as are fully described in an application for a patent filed by the applicant in the United States under Serial No. 279,824 and dated April 24, 1963.

This type of container, as illustrated in FIGURES 21 and 22, is formed of a blank 71 and has the bottom wall 72, the side walls '73 and 74, the end walls and 76, and the top wall or cover 77. The side walls 73 and 74 have the extension or locking flaps 78 and 79 and which are integral therewith, and are approximattely of the same height.

Each of the locking flaps is formed with an offset or protruding portion 80 in its upper and lateral portion and from which projects downwardly the bendable locking lip or tongue 81 terminating short of the lower transverse edge of the locking lip. This locking lip is creased at 82, where it projects from the offset or protruding portion, so that it may be folded inwardly to abut the inner face of the offset or protruding portion, and this forms one part of the interlocking means.

The end walls 75 and 76 have the transverse bendable flaps or flanges 83 extending along their top portions and have the vertical slits 84 and 85 made in their upper portions and suitably spaced from their outer vertical edges and terminating considerably short from their joinder crease lines with the bottom wall. These slits 84 and 85 extend upwardly into the transverse flaps 83 at an offset angle to form the continuation of the approximate vertical slits into angular slits 86 in order to r-.:ceive the chamfered edges 87 of the locking flaps 7S and '79. This arrangement of the slits forms the other part of the interlocking means.

It will thus be noted that the height of the protruding portions and the locking lips, in their extended positions, of the locking flaps are longer than the height of the vertical slits formed in the end walls, so that it is necessary to fold back the locking lips against the faces of the protruding portions in order that the combined protruding portions and their locking lips may be inserted through the slits.

When the uprights walls are to be joined and locked together, the locking flaps are folded at right angles to the vertical folds of the uprights from the bottom wall, and the locking lips, projecting downwardly from the lower extremities of the protruding portions of the locking flaps, are folded vertically so as to abut the inner surfaces of the protruding portions. The end walls are folded upwardly in a vertical direction from the bottom wall and with their articulated bendable transverse flaps or flanges arranged in vertical alignment, are flexed so that the slits will be in position for receiving the protruding portions and locking lips of the locking flaps, thus completing the locked corners 88 for the container in its setup position.

The folded locking flaps are simply directed into and through the common slits of the transverse flaps and the end walls by bringing the walls into an upright position, with the folded locking flaps articulating inwardly in upright angular positions from the upright side walls, thus allowing the protruding portions and the folded locking lips to penetrate through the slits and engage with the inner faces of the end walls. The locking lips are automatically released from their folded abutment with the protruding portions and unfold themselves of their own volition and pliancy, and as these locking lips extend below the lower extremities of the slits, the offset or protruding portions of the locking flaps are contiguous back to back engagement with the inner faces of the end walls, it will be noted that there is positive interlocking of the side and end walls together and allowing for little or no lateral or vertical movement possible, and consequently preventing any displacement of the locking units from their locked position.

The plunger 68 may be in the form of a cube, rectangular, square or of any other configuration in accordance with the requirements, but as shown, it is somewhat rectangular in shape and has the smooth side Walls 89 and the smooth end walls 90, the latter having block or protuberances 91 projecting outwardly therefrom and forming an integral part thereof. A bottom wall completes the plunger, although the bottom Wall may be omitted if found unnecessary.

The forming die 7% and the magazine 93 for the blanks 71 are integrally connected together as a common unit. The magazine portion of the unit is located in an adjacent position to the blank pick-up mechanism and Within the reach and abuttal engagement of the blank pick-up member 94 of the blank pick-up mechanism, at a predetermined point of its path of travel during its oscillation between the magazine and the throat portion of the forming die.

The magazine 93 consists of a gate 95 formed of the vertical posts 96 and 97 that are joined together at their lower ends by the transverse member 98 and their upper ends providing journals for the transverse roller 99, the whole completing an open frame through which the blanks are removed from the magazine. These vertical or upright posts have the blank retaining plates or fingers and 101 projecting inwardly and which may be fixedly or movably secured thereto. a

The blank supporting members 102 and 103 are secured to the inwardly projecting bracket plates 104 and 105, which are welded or otherwise secured to the vertical posts 96 and 97. These blank supporting members are parallel to one another and extend rearwardly, in a longitudinal direction, from the gate 95.

The shape and angular construction of these longitudinal blank supporting members is quite important for the natural positioning and gravity feeding of the blanks along the length of the magazine and to the discharge end thereof, which is the gate, the gate being an integral part of the magazine and an integral part of the forming die proper.

In prior structures of the blank magazines used in feeding mechanisms for container forming machines, the magazines are set at too steep an angle. This has the effect of increasing the weight and pressure of the blanks at the discharge end of the magazine, thus creating greater difficulty in removing the blanks singly from the magazine.

In other instances the angle of the magazine is set in such a way that there is barely sufficient gravity to give the required self-impulse to the blanks to make the requisite speed for the proper continuity of the flow of the blanks to the discharge end of the magazine and their removal therefrom by the blank pick-up mechanism.

In other cases, where the magazine is set at an approximate horizontal position, pressure plates are utilized to push the blanks along the length of the magazine to the discharge end thereof, sometimes aided by movable blank supporting rods. Again this has been found unsatisfactory, since this has the effect of squeezing the blanks tightly together at the discharge end of the magazine, with the result, that in many instances the blanks adhere to one another and are removed in that condition from the maga zine and deposited in the same condition on the forming die.

In all such cases the blank supporting members or bars are rectilineally constructed and the whole magazine, as a unit, is generally set at the required angle.

In the present invention, such methods have been entirely averted. The blank supporting members M2 and 103 are deliberately constructed to be off the rectilinear line and in place thereof, the blank supporting members are each formed with identical angles of varying degrees. Such angles of varying degrees merging with one another without deleting from each other their proper functions in permitting the blanks to move themselves, through gravity, to the gate of the magazine in an orderly manner. This is accomplished without any unnecessary pressure being applied to the blanks and the avoidance of any accumulated weight that is ordinarily built up at the exit end of the magazine.

It has been found that excellent results have been obtained by having the longitudinal length of each of the blank supporting members divided into two sections or portions 1136 and 107, the section or portion 106 that is adjacent to the discharge end or gate of the magazine being set at an approximate 10 degree angle and this merges with the section or portion 107. The section 107 is set at an approximate 20 degree angle and extends rearwardly of the front section or portion of the individual blank supporting member.

It is preferable that the stacking of the blanks of the magazine should commence at the discharge end or gate of the magazine and be supported endwise on the blank supporting members and arranged vertically thereon. It will be noted that the front portions or sections 106 are located at the discharge end of the magazine and which are set at a degree angle. As the stack of blanks increases in size it will accumulate on the degree angle portions or sections 1&7 of the blank supporting members and the blanks will maintain their approximately vertical angular and alignment position with the blanks supported by the 10 degree angle front section or portion 166 of the blank supporting members.

In this way, the blanks will not overcrowd one another and they will be free from the friction adhering contact with each other that otherwise would occur if the blanks were mounted on straight runways set at an angle that would cause the blanks to pack tightly against each other and which would be increased at the lower end of the straight runways.

Although the angular degrees as hereinbefore mentioned are acceptable for obtaining the required results, it is conceivable that in using blanks of different sizes and styles it may necessitate certain deviations from the angular degrees set forth. Furthermore, the blank supporting members may be constructed to have their lengths made in a series of multiple step formations of var ing degrees and accomplish the same purpose, and it is to be understood that in the formation of the blank supporting members into angular degrees of sections or portions they are not to be restricted to any specified angular degrees or to the number of angles that may be formed throughout the length of the blank supporting members.

The bracket arms 108 and 109 are welded or otherwise secured to the vertical posts 96 and 97 of the magazine and to the longitudinal arms 110 and 111. These longitudinal arms 110 and 111 have their front ends welded or otherwise secured to the forming die and their other extremities extending rearwardly of the gate and are adapted to be detachably secured to the frame of the container forming machine.

The forming die 70 is formed of the die plate 112 having the throat 69 and the blank guide members 113 and 114. The forming die is adapted to slidably or otherwise engage with the longitudinal channel members 115 and 116 that are bolted or otherwise secured to the side walls 117 of the container forming machine. Since it has already been determined that the throat 69 of the forming die will be in alignment position with the plunger 68 when the forming die has been located in a certain position, all that is necessary to be done is to secure the forming die to the channel members, and, as the forming die is integrally or fixedly secured to the magazine, no further adjustments are necessary for the gate, the blank pick-up member and its operating mechanism, the plunger or the forming die, by this simple installation everything is ready to convert the blanks into formed containers.

In FIGURE 14, a modified form of the forming die and magazine unit is illustrated. The forming die and the magazine are integrally joined together in one solid piece for a firmer and sturdier structure. The forming die 118 is made from a flat horizontal plate 119 having one end suitably curved upwardly to the desired angle to form an apron 120 which is welded or otherwise secured to the uprights or posts 121 and 122 of the magazine 123. The apron 120 has an opening therethrough that forms a gate 124 and which is so located that it will be in the direct arcuate path of travel of the blank pick-up member as it moves to and from the gate and the throat of the forming die.

The gate has the blank retaining plates or fingers 125 projecting inwardly from its sides and that are adapted to engage and overlap slightly the edges of the foremost blank of the stack of blanks mounted edgewise on the blank supporting members 126 and 127. Since there is little pressure exerted against the blanks, this is sufficient to hold back the blanks in the magazine and yet permit easy removal of the foremost blank as it is suctionally withdrawn from the discharge end of the magazine by the blank pick-up member for conveying the same to the forming die.

It will thus be seen that the forming die, as secured to the machine frame, will automatically become nonadjustable and take a positive position therein with respect to the path of the plunger, and, since the magazine forms an integral part of the forming die, the magazine will also automatically assume a non-adjustable position in the machine frame for coaxial alignment with the blank pick-up mechanism and the throat of the forming die portion with the plunger.

The throat -69 of the forming die is provided with the longitudinal faces 128 and 129 which project downwardly from the top edge surface 130 of the throat and are suitably shaped to provide the required folding and wall forming members 131 and 132.

The inner end faces 133 and 134 of the throat of the forming die project downwardly from the top edge surface 131} of the throat and are centrally recessed at 135 and 136 to receive the protuberances 91 extending outwardly from the end walls 90 of the plunger 68.

The outer portions of the central recesses 135 and 136 terminate into the integral hooks 137 and 138 which project forwardly beyond the edges of the recesses and then curve rearwardly of the recesses to form deep arcuate-shaped cuts 139 and 140 which are gradually curved to form outward sweeps 141 and 142 ending towards the corners 143, 144, 145 and 146 of the throat.

An acceptable type of a blank feeding mechanism, that may be used with the present container forming machine, is described in detail in a co-pending patent application of the applicant, but it must be understood that other types of feeding mechanisms may be used with the present machine and the invention is not to be restricted to any one particular type of feeding mechanism.

This particular type of feeding mechanism consists of a blank pick-up mechanism 60 which is formed of a pair of parallel arms 147 and 148 that are secured at their outer ends 149 and 150 to the oscillating shaft 151 journalled in the brackets 152 and 153 suitably mounted and secured to the end wall 154 and the side walls 155. The inner ends 156 and 157 of the parallel arms 147 and 148 are pivotally secured to the ends of the transverse rod 158 and to which are pivotally secured the arms 159 and 160 that support the transverse blank pick-up member 60. The supporting arms 159 and 160 have the otfset bracket arms 161 and 162 located adjacent to their forked ends 163 and 164 and which are for the purpose of supporting the transverse blank pick-up member 60 that may be adjustably held in their supported position.

The lever arms 165 and 166 are pivotally secured to the forked ends of the supporting rods and have their outer ends pivotally secured to the transverse shaft 167, which is journalled to the side walls 155 of the container formmg machine, and have the olfset arms 168 and 169 pivotally secured to and operated by the operating rods 56 and 57 of the operating mechanism.

The blank pick-up mechanism is located in the locale of the container forming mechanism and the magazine for supporting the blanks and is capable of bringing the blank pick-up member in and out of positional alignment with the discharge end of the magazine and in and out of positional alignment with the forming die and the plunger of the forming mechanism.

The blank 71 is removed from the magazine by the blank pick-up member, which is actuated by the blank pick-up mechanism '61), and deposited over the throat 69 for-med in the die plate 112 of the forming die 70 and is accurately aligned with respect to the bottom end surface of the plunger 68. When the plunger descends towards the forming die and makes contact with the flat face of the blank, the blank is forced against the die and engages with the sides and ends of the throat and which 9 commences to fold the end walls 75 and 76 and the side walls 73 and 74 of the blank upwardly about the fold lines articulated with the bottom wall 72 of the blank.

The end walls 75 and 76 of the blank are flexed slightly in advance of the bending of the side walls 73 and 74, since the blocks or protuberances 92, that are integral with the end walls 90 of the plunger and which project outwardly in approximate central positions therefrom, with the cooperative recesses 135 and 136 of the forming die will apply pressure outwardly against the end walls of the container that is being formed and cause the end walls to curve outwardly and thereby opening the slits formed therein.

This continual movement downwardly of the plunger will cause the smooth faces of the side walls 89 of the plunger with the cooperation of the longitudinal faces 128 and 129 of the die to force the side walls 73 and 74 of the container that is being formed to bend upwardly from their fold lines with the bottom wall.

Simultaneously the locking flaps 78 and 79 of the side walls 73 and 74 are being turned inwardly towards parallel alignment with the rising end walls 75 and 76 by contactual engagement with the corners of the throat and while being turned in that direction, the locking flaps are guided by the outward sweeps 141 and 142 of the recesses 135 and 136. As the locking flaps are moved into the deep arcuate cuts, the bendable locking lips or tongues 81 of the protruding portions 80, extending beyond and integral with the locking flaps, are folded upwardly from the crease lines 82 with the protruding portions through following the shape and guidance of the deep cuts and the integral hooks so that the locking lips will be bent in back-to-back formation with the inner faces of the protruding portions. As the end walls have now been expanded slightly outwardly this permits the easy introduction of the protruding portions and the locking lips through the slits formed in the end walls. The plunger has now about completed its downward stroke through the throat of the forming die, all the walls of the container to be formed have now been folded upwardly, the locking flaps are now at right angles to the side Walls and abut the end walls and the protuberances with their folded locking lips have been inserted through the slits of the end walls.

The plunge-r then completes its downward stroke to eject the formed container from the throat of the forming die and the locking lips are free to expand on the inside of the container walls and complete the locking of the corners of the container.

In some instances where different styles of containers are to be formed and in which .the depth may be deeper than usual, it may be necessary to provide a means for supporting the underside of the container as it is being formed and then remove the supporting means from engagement with the container when the latter has been formed and is being ejected from the throat of the forming die. This is accomplished by providing hangers 170 and 171 which are pivotally secured to the brackets 172 and 173 that are secured to the underside of the forming die 70 and which are located in the immediate vicinity of the inner end faces 133 and 134 of the throat 69. Each of these hangers are preferably U-shaped and are formed of the pivotally suspended rods 174 provided with a cross member or container supporting bar 175 at their lower ends. The hangers 170 and 171 are joined together by the toggle joint 176 which has its outer ends 177 and 178 pivotally secured to the suspended rods 174 of each of the hangers. A tension spring 179 is also connected to each of the hangers and secured-to their respective suspension rods 174 below the pivotal connections thereto of the toggle joint.

These hangers are adapted to be swung in and out of position with the underside of the container that is being formed. The upward expanding position of the toggle joint will cause a tension to the spring 179 and have the 1%) effect of swinging the hangers towards one another so that their cross members will be brought within the throat area and engage the underside of the container at its ends. When the toggle is in its lowering position it will cause the spring to expand and swing the hangers outwardly from one another and disengage them from contact with the container and allow the same to be ejected from' the throat of the forming die.

The actuation of the toggle joint may be accomplished in various ways such as from the plunger operating mecha nism and which will synchronize therewith and with the other operating mechanisms of the container forming machine.

An auxiliary unit may be added to the operating mechanism of the container forming machine for bending the flanges and/ or cover of the container that is being formed, or even in the formation of a container having one or more double wall in its structure, without the necessity of changing the mechanism, simply by including a secondary motion that is operated by the plunger actuating mechanism.

This secondary motion may be constructed in various ways for performing its specified functions Without departing from its general scope, but as herein shown, the auxiliary unit is formed of a longitudinal secondary motion rod 188 having one end fulcrummed at 181 to a fixed portion of the machine frame and having its other end 182 pivotally secured to the connecting lever 183, which in turn is pivotally secured at 184 to the longitudinal oscillating rod 45, and preferably located between the connecting rod 53 and the operating rod 43 pivotal connections to the longitudinal oscillating rod 45.

The sleeve rod 185 of the auxiliary unit is pivotally secured at its lower end to the secondary motion rod at 186 and has its upper end pivotally secured at 187 to the sleeve 188 which is slidably mounted on the vertical post or rod 63. The horizontal operating rod 189 forms a fixed or integral part of the sleeve 188 and projects therefrom to extend along and to one side of the throat 69.

The auxiliary unit is situated beneath the horizontal disposition of the die portion of the container forming mechanism, and therefore, the horizontal operating rod 189 is always located beneath the level of the undersurface of the container forming die even at the uppermost length of travel of the horizontal operating rod on the vertical post or rod 63. This horizontal operating rod 189 has the transverse members 190 and 191 projecting laterally therefrom, and on which are pivotally mounted the levers 192 and 193, the latter being pivotally connected to the container engaging members 194 and 195 that are adapted to contact the flanges and/ or cover of the container for folding them inwardly into the interior of the container.

The container engaging members have their inner ends pivoted to the outer ends of the levers 192 and 193 and their outer ends terminating into impelling members 196 and 197 which press against the flanges and/ or cover of the container that is being formed so as to bend them inwardly and, in certain cases, downwardly to form inner upright walls to the container.

The container engaging members are fulcrummed at 198 to a non-movable part of the container forming machine and this is for the purpose of enabling the impelling members 196 and 197 to follow through with the bending and the tucking in of the flanges. In certain instances, where only certain of the flanges are to be tucked in or to form double walls in the container, the length of the levers 192 and 193 is increased, and in cases where it is only required to bend the flanges only in an inward direction, the length of the levers is shortened.

From the above it will be noted that the means for the activation of the auxiliary unit has been described as having a single horizontal operating rod, a single longitudinal secondary motion rod and other actuating parts thereof in the singular; it will be understood that all these actuating members or portions thereof may be duplicated in accordance with the requirements and the size of the container forming machine.

Since certain changes may be made in the above in- "vention and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

ll. In a container forming machine, a machine frame, a plunger mechanism including a plunger, a forming die detachably secured to said machine frame and having a throat which is positioned in alignment with said plunger, longitudinal arms having their outer ends integral with said forming die and projecting therefrom, a magazine adapted to support a plurality of pre-cut blanks in an endwise position and integral with the inner ends of said longitudinal arms, a gate extending upwardly from said longitudinal arms and integral therewith and situated adjacent to the inner ends thereof and forming a blank removal outlet for said magazine, a blank pick-up mechanism secured to said machine frame, a blank pickup member secured to and adapted to be operated by said blank pick-up mechanism for removing a foremost blank from the magazine and through the aforementioned gate and placing said blank on said forming die and over the throat thereof and in alignment with said plunger, and means for operating said plunger mechanism and said blank pick-up mechanism.

2'. In a container forming machine, a machine frame, a plunger mechanism including a plunger, a forming die comprising a hat horizontal plate detachably secured to said machine frame and having a throat which is positioned in alignment with said plunger, said horizontal plate having one end curved upwardly to form an apron, a gate forming an integral part of the apron of said horizontal plate, a magazine adapted to support a plurality of pre-cut blanks in an endwise position and forming an integral part of said gate and the apron of said horizontal plate, a blank pick-up mechanism secured to said machine frame, a blank pick-up member secured to and adapted to. be operated by said blank pick-up mechanism for removing a foremost blank from said magazine and through the aforementioned gate and placing the blank on said forming die and over the throat thereof and in alignment with said plunger, and means for operating said plunger mechanism and said blank pick-up mechanism.

3. In a container forming machine, a machine frame, vertical posts secured to said machine frame, a forming die having a throat and secured to said machine frame, a plunger located in vertical alignment with the throat of said forming die and slidably mounted on said vertical posts, a blank feeding mechanism secured to said machine frame, means for operating said plunger and said blank feeding mechanism, an auxiliary unit comprising a longitudinal secondary motion rod pivotally secured to said machine frame and connected to and actuated' by said operating means, a sleeve slidably mounted on one of said vertical posts, a sleeve rod pivotally secured to said sleeve and to said longitudinal secondary motion rod, a horizontal operating rod secured to said sleeve, and container engaging members connected to said horizontal operating rod and actuated by said operating means.

4. in a container forming machine as claimed in claim 3, in which transverse members. project laterally from said operating rod, levers pivotally connected to said transverse members, and container engaging members pivotally secured to said levers and actuated by said operating means.

5. In a container forming machine as claimed in claim 3, in which container engaging members have impelling members which are adapted to engage and press against the flanges and/ or cover of the container being formed so as to bend them inwardly into or onto the container.

6. In a container forming machine, a machine frame, vertical posts secured to said machine frame, a forming die having a throat and secured to said machine frame, a plunger located in vertical alignment with the throat of said forming die and having means slidably mounted on said vertical posts, a blank feeding mechanism secured to said machine frame, a transverse shaft journalled in said machine frame and operated by suitable means, longitudinal oscillating rods fulcrummed at one end to the machine frame and having their other ends pivotally connected to the sliding means of said plunger, operating rods having their lower ends pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of said longitudinal oscillating rods and their upper ends pivotally connected to said blank feeding mechanism, eccentrically driven operating rods pivotally connected to said longitudinal oscillating rods and to the operating means of said transverse shaft, said longitudinal oscillating rods forming the operating means for directly controlling, synchronizing and timing the movements and positioning of the blank feeding mechanism and the plunger.

7. In a container forming machine as claimed in claim 6, in which a container supporting means is in the form of hangers that are pivotally secured to said forming die and adjacent to the throat thereof and adapted to be swung in and out of position with the under-surface of a container that is being formed by means connected to said longitudinal oscillating rods which control the operation thereof.

8. In a container forming machine as claimed in claim 7, in which each of the hangers is U-shaped and formed of pivotally suspended rods joined together at their lower ends by a cross member which is adapted to engage with the underside of a container that is being formed, a toggle joint having its outer ends pivotally secured tothe hangers and connected to the plunger operating means, and a tension spring joining said hangers together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,189 12/1951 Pagedarm 93--5l 3,023,680 3/1962 Bayley 9351 3,038,389 6/1962 Pagendarm 935l 3,067,654 12/1962 Nichols 93--5l BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE, A MACHINE FRAME, A PLUNGER MECHANISM INCLUDING A PLUNGER, A FORMING DIE DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID MACHINE FRAME AND HAVING A THROAT WHICH IS POSITIONED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PLUNGER, LONGITUDINAL ARMS HAVING THEIR OUTER ENDS INTEGRAL WITH SAID FORMING DIE AND PROJECTING THEREFROM, A MAGAZINE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF PRE-CUT BLANKS IN AN ENDWISE POSITION AND INTEGRAL WITH THE INNER ENDS OF SAID LONGITUDINAL ARMS, A GATE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL ARMS AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH AND SITUATED ADJACENT TO THE INNER ENDS THEROF AND FORMING A BLANK REMOVAL OUTLET FOR SAID MAGAZINE, A BLANK PICK-UP MECHANISM SECURED TO SAID MACHINE FRAME, A BLANK PICK UP MEMBER SECURED TO AND ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED BY SAID BLANK PICK-UP MECHANISM FOR REMOVING A FOREMOST BLANK FROM THE MAGAZINE AND THROUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED GATE AND PLACING SAID BLANK ON SAID FORMING DIE AND OVER THE THROAT THEREOF AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID PLUNGER, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PLUNGER MECHAISM AND SAID BLANK PICK-UP MECHANISM. 